Build Strong Teams the Obama Way

We can be stakeholders in the future of the U.S., not free-riders.  We are called to participate in its renewal. Not only can we do what is asked but we’re being asked what should be done. 

In true  Me2We style Obama keeps assuming that you and I can

 recruit teams of rivals (and participate in other teams) to get things done better – and lift our world together.  And we keep proving him right. Beyond volunteering today, find a need that you can fill - with others’ help. Regularly practiced responsibility is like any habit. It becomes second nature after awhile. The key is regularity. 

I started small, in the hopes I will keep it up, joining a few others, stacking shelves at my local food bank. Being a part of this unlikely team of convivial misfits feeds my soul.  Plus I improved  my storyboarding method by adapting our team leader’s innovation. He suggested boxing and labeling stuff  by who was using the food.  For example, “Parent, infant, 2 kids” or “2 adults” or “diabetic.” (I just wish I had Buffy Wicks’ talents.)

As Obama said yesterday, ““If we could just recognize ourselves in one another …” and today, “Don’t underestimate the power of people who join together…”

Here’s six keys to cultivating thriving teams like the thousands created during the “get it done”, “no drama” Obama campaign:

1. Be specific about the top, actionable goal of the group.

2. Identify what needs to be done to reach the goal, then recruit individuals who have the specific talents or other resources to get those tasks done.

3. Approach each person by describing the goal, the specific way each one can help achieve it and why it would benefit that person; then describe the Sweet Spot of mutual benefit for all teammates to participate. 

4. Review above 3 items with everyone when first meeting together; ask for improvements in the goal and if others should be recruited to accomplish it; then agree on who should facilitate the group. 

5. Seek agreement on the Rules of Engagement by which your group will operate and on the timetable.

6. When the goal is met, de-brief on what worked and what didn’t, then discuss other possible goals for which some or all team mates may want to work together again.

Speaking of teamwork, Patrick May predicted that today will be the “most socially networked moment in history.” Ironically those out and about in D.C. may not be participating because their mobile phones (talking, texting and sending videos and photos) have already overloaded the networks. The rest of us could join in at several sites.